One case of mumps diagnosed in Upper Arlington

A student at Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington has been diagnosed with mumps.

PAMELA WILLIS, ThisWeek Community News

A student at Jones Middle School in Upper Arlington has been diagnosed with mumps.

In a letter sent to parents, Principal Shelly Hughes said if another case is discovered, students who have not received a MMR vaccine may be required to stay out of class.

Karen Truett, district director of communications, said she knows of only the one case.

"We had one mumps case confirmed at Jones, but not any others, so far," she said Thursday, May 15. "Our nursing staff has been in close communication with all of our families, including with parents that opted out of giving children the second dose of vaccine.

"Some people have medical issues where they can't follow the normal vaccine recommendations," she said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Franklin County Public Health, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can give lifelong protection against mumps if given when a child is 12-15 months old, followed by a second dose at age 4-6.

Mumps is viral illness that causes swelling of one or both salivary glands located under the jaw.

In her letter to parents, Hughes said symptoms include fever, headache, earache and swelling and tenderness of the neck or cheek. The disease is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

"If more mumps cases occur in the school, children who have not received the MMR vaccine may be required to stay out of school until the incubation period is over and the child is determined not to have mumps," Hughes wrote. "The best way to protect your child is to ensure that all vaccinations are up to date."

That incubation period would be about five days after a child is exposed, according to a letter distributed to Jones Middle School parents by the CDC, which recommended isolating mumps patients for five days after their glands begin to swell.